Petunia plant named ‘DANRAY5’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petunia  plant named ‘DANRAY5’ characterized by having mounded growth habit; large in size, red-colored flowers; high rate floriferous; early to bloom with long bloom period; and suitable for patios and outdoor beddings.

Latin name of the genus and species of the claimed plant: Petunia sensuWijsman.

Variety denomination: ‘DANRAY5’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia sensu Wijsman, hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name ‘DANRAY5’.

The new Petunia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a newPetunia variety with a mounded plant habit and large inflorescence withunique coloration.

The new Petunia cultivar originated from a cross-made in a controlledbreeding program by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in 2006, in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel. The female or seed parent is Petunia sensuWijsman ‘PE-1705’ (unpatented), and the male or pollen parent is Petuniasensu Wijsman ‘PE-99’ (unpatented). The new Petunia cultivar ‘DANRAY5’was discovered and selected by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in acontrolled environment in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia cultivar by vegetative cuttingsused in propagation was first performed in April of 2007 in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘DANRAY5’ which in combination distinguishthis Petunia as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. mounded growth habit;    -   2. large in size, red-colored flowers;    -   3. high rate floriferous;    -   4. early to bloom with long bloom period; and    -   5. suitable for patios and outdoor beddings.

Plants of the new Petunia ‘DANRAY5’ differ from plants of the parents,Petunia sensu Wijsman ‘PE-1705’ (unpatented) and Petunia sensu Wijsman‘PE-99’ (unpatented) in the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Female Parent Male Parent New Cultivar ‘PE-1’ ‘PE-99’Characteristic ‘DANRAY5’ (unpatented) (unpatented) Plant shape MoundedTrailing Upright Plant size Height: Height: Height: About 25 cm About 20cm About 25 cm Spread: Spread: Spread: About 35 cm About 40 cm About 30cm Growth habit Medium Strong Medium Flower size Depth: Depth: Depth:About 4 cm About 4 cm About 4 cm Diameter: Diameter: Diameter: About 6cm About 6.5 cm About 5 cm Flower color Red Red with Red clear whitecenter Flowering time Early Late Early

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new Petunia ‘DANRAY5’ is the Petunia sensuWijsman ‘DANCAS110’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,288), in thecharacteristics described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison Cultivar New Cultivar ‘DANCAS110’ Characteristic‘DANRAY5’ (patented) Plant shape Mounded Mounded, bushy Plant sizeHeight: About 25 cm Height: About 25 cm Spread: About 35 cm Spread:About 50 cm Flower size Depth: About 4 cm Depth: About 3 cm to 3.5 cmDiameter: About 6 cm Diameter: About 4 cm to 5 cm Flower color RedYellow

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Petunia cultivar ‘DANRAY5’ showing the colors as true as isreasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors inthe photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘DANRAY5’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective a typical flowering plant of‘DANRAY5’ in a 13 cm pot, at 10 weeks after planting.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical flowers of ‘DANRAY5’ at 10weeks after planting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Petunia ‘DANRAY5’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may varywith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, andday length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

Plants of ‘DANRAY5’ are grown outdoors in a moderate climate, and grownindoors during the winter. Irrigation and fertilization are needed on aregular basis. For optimal growth, grow plants of ‘DANRAY5’ in fullsunlight. Plants of ‘DANRAY5’ are fully-grown in 3 months when grown infull sunlight, and bloom all year-round in a moderate climate.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new Petunia ‘DANRAY5’as grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart(R.H.S.), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately (time) 12:00 noon in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.The age of the plant described is 10 weeks from planting.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Petunia sensu Wijsman.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Petunia sensu Wijsman ‘PE-1705’            (unpatented).        -   Male or pollen parent.—Petunia sensu Wijsman ‘PE-99’            (unpatented).-   Optimal growth conditions:    -   -   Light intensities.—Full sunlight.        -   Temperature.—Day: 22° C. to 32° C. Night: 15° C. to 20° C.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerant to a low temperature of            about 5° C. and tolerant to a high temperature of about 40°            C.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, sessile.        -   Overall shape of leaf.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Rounded (Obtuse).        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Length.—About 3.5 cm to 6 cm.        -   Width.—About 2 cm to 3.5 cm.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Upper and under surfaces: Pubescent.        -   Pubescence.—Upper and under surfaces: Puberulent.        -   Color of upper surface.—Immature and mature leaves: Green,            RHS 139A.        -   Color of under surface.—Immature and mature leaves: Green,            RHS 137C.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color.—Upper and under surfaces: Green, RHS 137D.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flower longevity.—About 3 to 6 days.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 6.5 cm. Depth: About 4 cm.        -   Floral tube.—        -   Diameter.—1.0 cm to1.5 cm at the corolla surface.        -   Flower shape/type.—Salverform.        -   Average number of flowers per lateral branch.—About 5 to 10.        -   Fertilization.—A balanced fertilizer with level N: P:            K=5:3:8, using 250–300 ppm Nitrogen.        -   Growth regulators.—Not necessary in Israel climate.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tip cuttings of side shoots.        -   Rooting habit and description.—Easy to root; root from            cutting base.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 5 to 10 days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 14 days at 20° C.-   Plant:    -   -   General appearance and form.—Height: About 25 cm. Spread:            About 35 cm.        -   Growth habit.—Mounded.        -   Growth rate.—Fully grown plant in 3 months.        -   Branching habit and description.—Freely branching, typical            to Petunia species.        -   Flowering response.—Indifferent to day length.        -   Flowering season.—Year round in moderate climate.        -   Winter hardiness/weather tolerance.—Frost tender. Plants may            be damaged by temperatures below 5° C.        -   Lastingness of the individual bloom.—3 to 6 days.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Stem description:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 20.        -   Length.—About 20 cm to 40 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 0.2 cm to 0.5 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Branching.—Freely.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Internodes length.—About 2 cm to 4 cm.        -   Internodes and stem color.—Yellow-green, RHS 144C.        -   Petals.—Number: 5; all 5 petals are united. Length: About 5            cm to 6.5 cm (from edge of the petal up to the base of            floral tube). Width: About 2.5 cm across. Shape: Corolla            united with 5 lobes and a long straight tube. Apex: Rounded            (Obtuse). Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper and under surfaces:            Glabrous. Color (when opening and when fully opened): Upper            and Under Surfaces: Greyed-red, RHS 181A, with red, RHS 42A.        -   Sepals.—Number: 5. Length: About 1.5 cm to 2.2 cm. Width:            About 0.4 cm to 0.7 cm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Truncate.            Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper and under surfaces:            Pubescent. Color: Upper surface: Green, RHS 137A. Under            surface: Green, RHS 139B.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: About 2 to 4 days. Shape: Tubular.            Length: About 3 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 0.6 cm to 1 cm.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: Greyed-red, RHS 180C.        -   Peduncle.—Length: About 2 cm to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm            to 3 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Yellow-green, RHS 144C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Number: 5. Length: 1.5 cm. Color: Green,            RHS 139D. Anther: Shape Round. Length: About 1 mm. Color:            Yellow, RHS 11C. Filaments: Length: About 14 mm. Color:            White, RHS 155C. Pollen: Amount: Abundant. Color: RHS 11C.            Pollination requirements: None.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistils: Quantity: 1. Length: About 15 mm. Color:            Yellow-green, RHS 144B. Stigma: Shape: Undulate. Width:            About 2 mm. Color: Yellow-green, RHS 144A.        -   Style.—Shape: Terete. Length: About 15 mm. Color:            Yellow-green, RHS 144B.        -   Ovary.—Shape: Narrowly Conical. Position: Superior. Length:            About 4 mm. Width: About 3 mm at the base. Color:            Yellow-green, RHS 144A.-   Seeds:    -   -   Quantity per fruit.—About 200 to 400.        -   Shape.—Round.        -   Length.—About 0.5 mm.        -   Width.—About 0.5 mm.        -   Texture.—No hair.        -   Color.—Black, RHS 202B.-   Fruit:    -   -   Number.—Few, when naturally pollinated.        -   Type.—Capsule.        -   Shape.—Ellipsoid.        -   Length.—About 9 mm.        -   Width.—About 6 mm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Yellow-green, RHS 144B.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to disease and pests common to    Petunia has not been tested on plant grown under commercial    conditions.-   Disease/pest susceptibility: Susceptibility to disease and pests    common to Petunia has not been observed on plant grown under    commercial conditions.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Petunia have exhibited good    tolerance to draught, rain and wind; however, flowering may cease    during hot periods (temperatures above 45° C.). Low temperature    tolerance to 5° C.

1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘DANRAY5’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 